Christopher Krapp is
a talented driver from
Germany who set the
asphalt on fire at the

2016 Reedy TC Race of
Champions by finishing
second at the wheel
of a Tamiya/TRF 419X
touring car. ;e event
was highlighted by his
close battle with the
eventual winner Ronald
Volker, so it may be only
natural to see him inking
a deal with Yokomo,
making him armed and
ready for battle as the

2017 Reedy TC Race
approaches.

RYAN MAIFIELD

Ryan Maifield shook up the racing scene when he left
his longtime sponsor Team Associated to join TLR a few
years back, and many witnessed his talents progress as
he captured big events like the Reedy Race of Champions
Invitational title in 2015, but surprisingly his stint there is
at an end. His announcement to leave went viral on social
media, and armchair experts everywhere took to the
keyboard with rumors. Speculation has been circulating,
but now it’s o;cial. Ryan signed a three-year deal
with Yokomo for electric o;-road and Mugen Seiki for

1/8-scale buggy. Yokomo said that Ryan is a huge asset
and not something they could pass on when someone
of his caliber comes along. His talents will help Yokomo
further improve their electric o;-road vehicles to better
suit the style of racing in North America. He and Carson
Wernimont will be a lethal one-two punch in their
racing program.

DAKOTAH PHEND & JARED TEBO

In other tire news, a big surprise was the announcement on social media by Pro-Line’s
Team Manager Daniel Adams:
“Lastly to Dakotah Phend, Jared Tebo, and the other team drivers departing for next
season, we wish you the best.”
;is took a lot of racers o; guard, and Dakotah also made this statement:

“Just wanted to say thanks to Daniel Adams, Gerardo Gonzalez, Matt Wallace, and everyone else at Pro-Line for all the support over the last five years. We have had a ton of success, and they were a hugehelp in getting me where I am at today in my career. I wish them nothing but the very best! With thatbeing said, it is time for me to try something new for 2017. Look for news to come soon!”

While these statements explain where the two drivers won’t be for 2017, it didn’t
explain where they will end up.

DAVIDE ONGARO

A lot of talk was already circulating before the end of the 2016 IFMAR 1/8 Nitro O;-Road Worlds in Las Vegas, Nevada, about where the talented young Italian driver would
make his move o; the track. ;e rumors had a lot of substance to them, and by the
end of 2016, it was o;cial. Team Associated is no doubt a great fit for Davide Ongaro’s
1/8-scale nitro background, but he will also be competing in 1/10-scale electric o;-road and on-road. Joining Davide at Team Associated will be his father Mauro and their
mechanic Verry. For power, Davide will now be running LRP products.